Making Art and Poetry from History

Arlyn Miller
founder/director

Who can do this activity. This activity can be done by anyone at any age or writing level (as long as he or she can read), and may be done alone, with a friend, or in a group.

What you will need. (1) One copy of a page from a newspaper, magazine or text book for each person doing the activity. The copy of the words should be enlarged so that they will be easier to work with. If you can copy onto heavy stock paper, that will work better too; (2) a pencil; (3) blue painters’ tape; (4) WASHABLE black tempera paint; (5) paper plate or other container for the paint; (6) paint brush or sponge brush; (7) washable or disposable covering for your work surface

What to do. Read the article or text. Think about creating a poem from the words on the page. You will do this by circling in pencil those words, phrases or parts of words that you want to keep. Although you can’t add or reorder words, you can create new, shorter words from longer words already on the page – like “his” from “this” or “eat” from “great.” Cover up the words you want to keep with blue painters’ tape. Write your name and, if you want, a title, and cover them with tape. Be careful not to cover up words you don’t want to keep. Read over the poem you have created (you will be able to read through the blue tape.) When you are satisfied with your poem, paint over the text, including the taped words, with WASHABLE black tempera paint. When the paint has dried, remove the painters’ tape and your poem will remain against the black backdrop. You might try this with other colors of WASHABLE tempera paint that are dark enough to cover the words you are trying to cover up.

Check with an adult about what materials you may copy without violating copyright laws.